Saturday, April 4, 2009

Lombok Website Review

So, I received an email the other day, asking me to take a look at a website. It's not the first time that's happened, but it's the first time that I've actually wanted to use the items that were available for sale. At the Lombok website (http://www.lombokco.uk) they sell a plethora of home furnishings that are inspired by Eastern cultures. Some examples of these are the log basket, the lamp shades, and the laundry baskets.

I found myself getting creative as I looked at these. For example, the log baskets aren't something that a college student like me would need. After all, I don't have a fireplace nor do I have logs which need a basket. However, it's subtle color and practical design made me think of ways to use it, like as the centerpiece for a table or as a catch-all basket under my desk.

Now, a word to all of my friends in the United States who read this. It is a company in the United Kingdom and it does deal in Euros. So when you look at the prices, you have to remember that there's going to be about a 75% increase in the price when you convert it to US dollars. However, the selection is huge and if you order with this company, it's very likely that you will be the only one in your area with this type of product.

I do have a few favorites within the site. I've absolutely fallen in love with the candles that they have to offer. They're very solid and the designs are so unique! I always hate dealing with candles that make me feel like I'd break them if I held them the wrong way.

I also love love love the decorative section. Now, I'm all for decorative without a use, but 90% of what they offer can be used for things other than "Look at me, I'm pretty!" My favorite item in this section, by far, is the etched boxes.

Finally, the thing that really makes this website stand out by far is the ability to zoom in on a picture just by placing your cursor over the picture. This allows you to gain a better grasp of the details of the piece and know just what you're requesting.

The only real drawback that I see in this site is that it doesn't list how much international shipping is nor does it give you a place to convert Euros into dollars to know how much you'd have to pay. One has to call their office to find out how much international shipping is.

Overall, this bunny gives it four out of five carrots. Good going, Lombok! You've got an amazing site with wonderful products.

Friday, February 13, 2009

A pink bubble wish that came true

Just an hour and a half after I made my wish, I got a knock at the door. Oh, I totally had the moment of looking at it, wide eyed and thinking, "Holy crap, did it come true?" In a way, it was better. Two friends of mine, Autumn and David, were stopping off to say hey and that Autumn was heading home for the weekend. Then David hands me a rose and a bag from himself and his wife, Erica, and says happy Valentine's day.

Sometimes, friends who love you like family are better than any boy. Now I have two roses (One from my RA) and some chocolates. My daddy used to always get me something for Valentine's day, and this more than makes up for that.

Pink bubble wishes

So I just recently came to terms with the idea of a shorter blog post. I think this is going to be one of those.

I realized just a second ago that if I could be given a perfect moment, I know exactly what I would want. I'd want to hear a knock at the door and open it to find my crush standing there, maybe with a flower or something, and invite me to dinner or to spend time with him tomorrow. I think right now, right at this state, that would be my perfect moment.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Guest Star- The Duck

I was featured recently in a friend's blog, and it looks to be that this Duck, as I am so affectionately dubbed, will be cropping up there from time to time with the Duck News. I seem to find myself with a plethora of animal-centric nicknames. Bunny, Duck... One more and I'm a trifecta of mammals.

Anyways, go take a look at my dear buddy Daft over at Not The Way It Happened... and say that the Duck sent you.

As a side note, I just realized that the content of my blog probably makes some of you wonder if I suffer from multiple personality disorder. Don't worry, folks, it isn't true.

I enjoy every moment of it.

Monday, February 2, 2009

1:30 A.M.

It's 1:30 in the morning. I haven't been able to sleep, despite being so tired. Everything's gone terribly wrong in my head. I find myself saying all too often "2009 is not my year," despite only being 1/12 through it.

The year started off rather well. I closed 2008 with a youth conference and opened 2009 with another conference. Things just seemed to spiral downward. My job situation has shifted enough that it's difficult to stay afloat monetarily. My truck ended up needing work done on it, which cost me $200 that I didn't have. The one class I was looking forward to this school year was canceled. I ended things with my boyfriend because he just wasn't the right one for me. Money's even tighter because my loan check is being delayed. There's stress in my apartment between my roommates and myself and it's mostly because they don't talk to me about much.

My parents are getting divorced.

That's the hardest thing of all. All I've ever known is mom *and* dad. They've been married 25 years. I helped my dad arrange the flowers he got her for their anniversary this last November. It breaks my heart and destroys a lot of what I thought about marriage. It makes me nervous to continue dating. It makes me scared to consider moving forward.

I've got my head all in a fog. I can't concentrate and I fear that I might fall behind in classes a little. I don't know how to focus enough around this whole thing. I'm scared and lonely and it doesn't matter that I'm around people. I don't know how to get through this.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

GCN Conference 2009- Day One

Something that I've mentioned in early blog posts is that I have the privilege of working with a group called the Gay Christian Network (GCN) as a member and a volunteer. GCN has been a ministry that I really can get behind and I've been blessed even as I work for them. The purpose of this forum-based community is to connect people with those who identify as gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered and Christian with others like them, supporters, and friends and family members that are supportive and/or are searching for answers about what God is doing in this community.

Each year, this world-wide network hosts a conference in a major city in the United States. Last year was Washington, D.C. This year was Anaheim and it was my first conference. I've always been involved heavily with whatever church or ministry that I'm a part of, so I immediately volunteered to help out when I realized that I could go to this conference.

Sometime this last spring, a friend of mine contacted me to say "I'm helping coordinate the conference and I wanted to know if you're able to do this." She offered me the position of Publicity Director- I would make the printed materials needed for the conference. Well, I know my way around Publisher and I know what tends to be the best layout for this type of thing. I've attended a lot of conferences. So I said yes and we got rolling.

Getting the program printed was a bit of a nightmare. Unfortunately, schedules tend to wait until the last minute before they're finalized. In addition to this, the night I was hoping to have it finished, my dear Yoshihiro (my laptop) decided that he was going to throw a temper tantrum and not open things properly. I ended up being that crazy looking lady in the airport who has her lunch sitting next to her with her laptop in her lap and a cell phone in her ear, calling around and confirming everything. Still, the programs got printed, they looked awesome, and they got to the hotel early enough to be prepped for registration.

So how did I experience conference? Mostly, it was from the back of the room. Things kicked off Thursday with me learning how to run the program for the projection stuff during the services. I tried to stay as on hand as possible for Chris and Dennis, just basically being their minion of sorts. I absolutely love the job, by the way. They are two amazing people who are fired up for the Lord and just want to serve. Working with them was a blessing. I had dinner with my English roommate, got to talk to a few conference attendees down in the hotel cafe, and then headed up to help out with registration while the regular volunteers got dinner. It was so amazing to have the chance to meet so many people as they were registering. I think things got a little like a whirlwind at one point, but to see so many people registered...

I had a really great opportunity during the general session too. Just after the worship, I ducked out to visit the restroom and Nate from the office was wandering around. He needed more supplies but didn't have a way to get anywhere. Can you say field trip? We hopped into my truck and took off to Target. I loved that evening with Nate, just heading out, getting things done, and talking while we're at it. After cutting a bunch of cards for name tags and ribbon for identifying those who are ok with photos, I spent a while peeling the backs off of avatar photo stickers and just being available for answering questions. I love to be helpful, I really do. I feel like I get more out of an event when I can serve than when I am served.

After things wrapped up a little, I just went and crashed in bed. It wasn't pretty. Friday through Sunday left to talk about. Stay tuned!

Oops

I really need to start updating this more often. Well, Christmas did show up and then I had two conferences, one of which I will be blogging about later. Still, I glanced at my blog, saw that I had gotten really excited about ISP and said "Well, darn. I need to tell the 3.7 people who read my blog that I'm not going."

That's right. I'm not going. I lost funding, couldn't feel comfortable with where I was going and what I was doing, and realized that I really did need to stay here and take some classes. Plus, a good pair of friends of mine are getting married, and if I had gone, I would have missed their wedding. Not good!

My truck also almost died. Yeah. Buddy says to me, "Hey, don't take it in. I'll teach you to replace the oil." In his defense, I do now know how to change my own oil. I also know what not to do and how to change my transmission fluid. Thanks, Rick.

Single again. Don't know if I told y'all that I was dating. Still, it's for the best all around. Oh, hey, I should get ready for class. See you guys real soon!